Nick Saban says Auburn facing another Cam Newton in opener

Alabama coach Nick Saban says archrival Auburn is playing against a quarterback who reminds him of Cam Newton in its opener.

Auburn opens the season by hosting Deshaun Watson and Clemson on September 3; the Tide edged Clemson 45-40 in the national championship game last season.

"That guy is the most significantly dominant player that we played against since Cam Newton in 2010 ...," Saban said of Watson during his ESPN "car wash" tour Tuesday. "That guy coming back for that team, I think, is going to make them a very, very competitive team in terms of being in the championship arena again."

Watson rolled up 478 total yards against the Tide; he threw for 405 yards and four TDs and also had 20 carries for 73 yards. He heads into the 2016 season as a leading Heisman contender.

Newton won the Heisman and guided Auburn to the national title in 2010, when he accounted for 255 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Auburn rallied from a 21-3 deficit to down the Tide 28-27.